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​Villanova University professor charged with child porn

VILLANOVA, Pa. -- A Villanova University history professor has been charged with 415 child pornography-related counts after the university contacted police.

Radnor police Lt. Andrew Block says hundreds of images were found in the investigation of 60-year-old professor Christopher Haas. He says Haas also is the subject of a similar 2012 federal probe.

Haas waived his right to a preliminary hearing in Delaware County on Thursday and was undergoing a mental evaluation in prison, according to CBS Philly. He's in custody on $50,000 bail.

Calling the allegations "sad," and "disappointing," Block explained Radnor Police charged Dr. Haas on Monday after Villanova security officials observed him viewing child porn on a computer in a campus hall, CBS Philly reported.

Police were tipped by campus security personnel about Haas' inappropriate use of a computer on campus last week. But, it was police follow-up with federal homeland security personnel that brought to light the federal probe of Haas' activities downloading images from a website. Haas allegedly had over 400 images of child pornography on his computer.

Federal authorities turned over information to the Delaware County DA's office for these charges. As to the Villanova computer activity, police will only say that is part of an ongoing investigation and more charges could be filed. Haas has been removed from the classroom and barred from the campus.

Defense lawyer Scott Godshall claimed the federal case was closed without charges. He said Haas' Monday arrest marked "a terrible day for a great school and a great professor."

Villanova spokesman Jonathan Gust says the university was unaware of the federal investigation.

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